Free Playing with Power - Book 5: New Adult Office Romance by Adele Huxley

sleep. She was aware of someone standing from the bed, the mattress springing back. Landon?
    “Why didn’t you call someone? Why didn’t you take her to the hospital?” Landon began to panic. “Who the fuck are you to her, anyway? You better be her uncle or—”
    “Or what?” came the deep reply. “What exactly are you gonna do to me?” Damon paused and took a deep breath. “I cleaned her up, assessed her injuries. We talked for a while and she didn’t have any signs—”
    “You can’t always be sure! Sometimes the symptoms are delayed...”
    She felt like everything was moving through a thick jelly. Her thoughts were slow, her movements even slower. “Guys,” she managed in a small whisper. They continued arguing over her. “Guys! I’m up, I’m up. Just please stop shouting.” Landon rushed back to her side and she smiled up at him.
    “See? She’s fine. I’ll go get her a cup of coffee,” Damon said in his gravelly voice.
    “Black,” said Landon over his shoulder.
    “I know how she likes her coffee,” was the clipped response.
    He looked exhausted, worry lines creasing his tanned skin, but he instantly smiled as she awoke. “Hey beautiful. How you feeling?”
    “What are you doing here?” she asked groggily. “I told you—how did you find me?”
    He brushed the hair away from her forehead to examine the bandaged gash and cringed. “Are you dizzy? Are you sure you’re—”
    “I’m fine. A little sore and tired, but fine. Really.” She squeezed his hand.
    “I love you so much, Wren.” Lauren pushed herself up, suddenly wide awake. Landon continued, his brown eyes earnest. “This isn’t exactly the way I’d imagined telling you but on the flight over, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I hadn’t gotten a chance to say it. If something had happened to you before I could...” his voice broke.
    “Oh shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think,” she replied flinging her arms around his neck. “I didn’t mean to worry you. It’ll never happen again, I swear. I completely forgot about what happened to you...” Landon held her tightly before pulling back and looking deeply into her eyes.
    “You’re right, it won’t happen again because I don’t plan on ever leaving your side,” he chuckled, wiping the wetness from his eyes.
    Still processing his declaration, Lauren was about to speak when Damon came in with a tray of coffee cups. She immediately noticed the yellow envelope tucked under his arm. He glanced at Landon and she felt him tense beside her. Couple alpha guys here, she thought to herself. I’m gonna have to smooth things over.
    “We’ve got a problem,” he said. For the second time in a day Lauren felt panic rise just by seeing Damon’s response. “Marco told me a delivery guy just dropped this off. Has your name on it,” he said nodding in her direction.
    “Fucking hell...what now?” Landon muttered as he reached out for the envelope. He unwound the string and lifted the flap, upturning it on the bed. A handful of large photos tumbled out and it took only a glimpse for Lauren to recognize the nude photos she’d sent him just a day before. She was interested in the sheet of white paper that had fallen out first.
    Lauren groaned as she read the note. “If this wasn’t so cheesy and stereotypical stalker, it’d almost be creepy.” Each letter on the note was cut from different magazines and taped to the sheet. “‘Glad you two love birds are finally together,’” she read out loud.
    Damon leaned against the far wall with a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. “The fact I got this package delivered to my house tells me your phones have been hacked. Whoever’s doing this probably got my address when I finally answered Lauren’s phone last night and gave you directions,” he said to Landon before returning his gaze to Lauren. “Not to mention the photos were obviously taken on your phone.”
    “You looked at the photos?” Landon snapped.
    “Wrong